Member

I will briefly speak in favour of a couple of other amendments. I remain highly concerned at the idea of a future Secretary of State having the power to change the National Health Service Act 1946—specifically section 1, which sets out the purpose for which the NHS exists—by using regulations instead of an Act Parliament. Once that power exists, it can be used not once, but at any time, to make fundamental changes to what our NHS is for. I was dismayed to see a change of this magnitude made to the Bill in Committee, and I will vote for amendment 12, in the name of the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Dame Siobhain McDonagh), to reverse it.